Albuquerque, NM– Amarillo would overcome a bruising 60 minutes to take down the Ice Wolves 3-to-2 in overtime.
The Wranglers would open the scoring just 3:29 into the game when Jack Ivey threw the puck on goal. New Mexico goalie Carsen Stokes made the initial save, but Ben Ivey located the rebound and slid the puck into the open net for his sixth goal of the year. New Mexico would try and even the game in the opening period, but Carter Clafton would keep them off the board.
New Mexico wasted no time in the second period with a Will Howard goal 12 seconds into the middle period. After the goal, Clafton would play lights out and stop the next 16 shots faced in the second. The Wranglers reclaimed their lead just a few minutes after the Ice Wolves’ goal when Preston Brighton beat Stokes over the shoulder with a quick-moving wrist shot.
For most of the third period, Clafton and the Wranglers would keep New Mexico off the scoresheet. In the final minute of regulation, Zack Kent would be on the receiving end of a violent hit from Jeff Hutchison. Kent hit the ice, and the play was blown dead. After receiving medical attention, Kent could walk off the ice on his own.
The Ice Wolves would tie the game with 4.6 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime. Amarillo started overtime with Pierce Patterson and Roman Zap as the forwards. This move would pay off as Patterson would use his speed to generate a 2-on-1 and find a wide-open Zap, who would tally the game-winning goal.
After the game, Paramedics took Zack Kent to a nearby hospital, where he received more care. Kent returned to the team hotel later in the evening. Zack has a sprain in his neck and a broken nose and is recovering from the hit.
The Wranglers will look to sweep New Mexico Saturday night with a 7:30 central start time.